Abhishek Sharma produced one of the most explosive innings in T20 international cricket on September 17, 2026, smashing a century in just 30 balls against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The left-handed opener eventually made 108 from 34 balls, an innings packed with nine fours and 11 sixes.
His assault powered India to 221/7 in the third and final T20I. Afghanistan were then bowled out for 94 in 14.1 overs, giving India a huge 127-run victory and a 3-0 series sweep. The night belonged to Abhishek, who not only won the Player of the Match award but was also named Player of the Series.
Abhishek Sharma Turns Delhi Into a Six-Hitting Show
Afghanistan chose to bowl first, but that decision quickly became painful. Abhishek attacked from the beginning instead of taking time to settle. His clean hitting through the off side, strong pick-up shots on the leg side and fearless use of the straight boundary kept the bowlers under constant pressure.
He reached his fifty in only 16 balls. Instead of slowing down after the milestone, he became even more aggressive. The next 50 runs came in just 14 deliveries. A six took him to 99 before a single brought up the hundred from his 30th ball.
Abhishek celebrated the moment with a calm meditation pose, a striking contrast to the violence of the batting that had come before it. He was finally dismissed by Rashid Khan for 108 from 34 balls, with his strike rate finishing above 317.
A 30-Ball Hundred That Broke Major Records
The innings immediately entered the record books. Abhishek’s 30-ball century is now the fastest T20I hundred by an Indian batter, beating Rohit Sharma’s 35-ball century against Sri Lanka in 2017.
It is also the fastest T20I century by a batter from a Full Member nation. In the overall T20I list, only Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan, who reached a hundred in 27 balls against Cyprus in 2024, and Turkey’s Muhammad Fahad, who did it in 29 balls against Bulgaria in 2025, have reached three figures faster.
Abhishek also struck 11 sixes in the innings. According to the ICC, that is the second-highest number of sixes by an Indian men’s batter in a T20I innings. His first fifty in 16 balls was another reminder of how quickly he can change a match during the powerplay.
Sanju Samson and Abhishek Give India a Flying Start
Abhishek was not alone in India’s early charge. Sanju Samson provided strong support at the other end and later completed a half-century of his own. Together, they helped India score 100 runs in the six-over powerplay, a new team best for India in T20 internationals.
Their partnership gave India a platform for a score that at one stage looked capable of going well beyond 230. Afghanistan did manage to slow the scoring after Abhishek and Samson were dismissed. Azmatullah Omarzai bowled well to finish with 2/27, while three Indian batters were run out as Afghanistan fought back in the later overs.
Even with that late slowdown, India’s 221/7 was far too large a target on the night.
Afghanistan Collapse in the Run Chase
Afghanistan started their chase with some intent, but India’s bowlers quickly took control. Axar Patel struck twice in the fourth over, removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal. The early wickets made an already difficult chase even harder.
The pressure kept building as wickets fell regularly. Nitish Kumar Reddy picked up 3/25, while Ravi Bishnoi finished with 3/26. Afghanistan were dismissed for just 94 in 14.1 overs, leaving India with a 127-run win.
The result completed a 3-0 sweep for India after they had also won the first two T20Is by seven wickets.
Player of the Match and Player of the Series
Abhishek’s century was the biggest moment of the final game, but his impact was spread across the entire series. He had scored 82 and 39 in the first two matches before adding 108 in the finale. That gave him 229 runs in three innings at an average of 76.33 and a strike rate of 269.41.
Those numbers earned him both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards. More importantly, the series showed that his attacking style can produce not just quick cameos but match-defining hundreds.
Abhishek Backs His Aggressive Approach
After the match, Abhishek said India’s batting group had been following an aggressive approach for the last two years and that a few poor series would not change that mindset. He explained that his preparation is built around studying which bowlers are likely to operate in different phases and deciding where he can attack.
He also credited the backing of the captain and coach for giving him the freedom to play his natural game. His message was simple: he does not want to restrict himself to particular scoring areas and prefers to react to the ball in front of him. In his words, he wants to “express myself” when he bats.
Why This Century Matters for India
Abhishek’s innings was more than a personal record. Modern T20 cricket is increasingly decided by teams that can dominate the powerplay, and India now have an opener capable of turning the first six overs into a match-winning phase almost by himself.
The fact that he reached 100 before the ninth over was completed shows the level of pressure he can put on an opposition. Even when such an approach carries risk, a player who can score at that speed forces captains to change field settings, disrupts bowling plans and allows the rest of the batting order more freedom.
With India now moving towards their next assignments, including the Asian Games in Japan, Abhishek’s form gives the team another major attacking option at the top of the order.
A Night to Remember for Abhishek Sharma
A 30-ball international century does not happen often. Abhishek Sharma’s 108 against Afghanistan combined timing, power and complete confidence, while also rewriting India’s T20I record book.
For India, the innings set up a comfortable series-clinching win. For Abhishek, it was another statement that his fearless batting is capable of producing historic results. September 17, 2026, will now be remembered as the night he became the fastest Indian to a T20I hundred.
Satyakam is a seasoned professional content writer with over 15 years of experience in creating high-quality, research-driven content for digital platforms. He specialises in business, finance, banking, law, technology, and informational blogs.
